LAGOS, July 28 – A family member of the 17-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by a police officer at the Ogudu Area H Command has accused the suspect’s relatives of pressuring the victim’s mother to forgive the accused.
The relative, who identified himself only as Anderson, revealed this information during a phone interview on Saturday.
The victim’s mother, Aramida Olupona, had previously expressed frustration with the police investigation, stating: “Officer Owolabi is supposed to have been charged to court by now, what are they waiting for? What are they covering up?”
Olupona said over a week had passed with no updates from the police. “We want more than a query given to this officer, the police need to be transparent and hold one of their own accountable for his actions,” she said.
Lagos Police Commissioner Adegoke Fayoade stated on Friday that the accused officer was currently in detention and that the department was awaiting the results of a medical examination, which he described as a “determinant factor” in the case.
However, police spokesperson Hundeyin contradicted this, saying the medical test had already been completed and handed over to investigators. Hundeyin promised another update would be provided soon.
Anderson claimed the victim’s mother had been subjected to “intense pressure” from the accused officer’s family members, who have reportedly been visiting her shop near the police barracks to plead with her. The victim’s brother, who first shared the incident on social media, has also been advised to leave town for his safety, Anderson said.
“We have begged her (survivor’s mother) to stay away from the shop for the time being. But she insisted that she would not leave her means of livelihood for anything,” he added.
The police have yet to officially identify the accused officer involved in the alleged rape, which reportedly occurred when the teenage girl went to the station to report a stolen phone.